EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team hosted their second nonconference game of the weekend on Saturday as Saint Mary's University (Minn.) was in town. Despite surrendering an early goal to the Cardinals in the first period, the Blugolds scored four unanswered goals in the final two periods to secure the 4-1 victory.

Box Score | Photos

UW-Eau Claire offense came out firing as they outshot the Cardinals 11-7 in the opening period. SMU found the first tally three minutes into the frame for their only goal of the evening. Eau Claire's special teams play contributed to their success all evening as they completed all five of their penalty kill situations. The Blugolds couldn't find an answer in the opening frame but kept their intensity high heading into the first intermission.

Quinn Green (Jr. – West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) found the equalizer for Eau Claire late in the second period as he found space in front of the net on the powerplay and shot the puck between the netminder's legs for his 8^th goal of the season. Ryan Green (Jr. – Muskego, Wis.) and Willy Stauber (Jr. – Duluth, Minn./Marshall) received assists on the game tying goal.

In the third period, Ryan Green collected his second point of the night as he buried his 7^th goal of the season just five minutes into the frame. Quinn Green and Willy Stauber both recorded their second points of the evening as they were credited with assists on the eventual game winning goal. Seven minutes later Jordan Randall (So. – Maple Grove, Minn.) netted his first goal of the season to increase the UWEC lead to 3-1. Blake Kryska (Jr. – Grand Blanc, Mich.) and Willy Stauber received assists on Randall's tally.

Blake Kryska found his first goal of the season in the final minutes of the contest with an empty net goal from the Eau Claire defensive zone to seal the 4-1 victory.

Max Gutjahr (Fr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced to earn his 9^th win of the season. Gutjahr is now 9-5-0 on the year.

The Blugolds (9-5-0, WIAC 3-3) will hit the road next weekend for two more nonconference matchups. UW-Eau Claire will face Hamline University on Friday, January 13 and St. Scholastica on Saturday, January 14. Both contests are scheduled for 7PM puck drops.

Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.